Intellectual Freedom Center
All students have the right to materials and educational experiences that promote open inquiry, critical thinking, diversity in thought and expression, and respect for others.
News and Updates
The updates and news presented here are representative of, but not comprehensive coverage of, 楼凤天堂’s ongoing Intellectual Freedom work. Due to the confidential nature of individual cases and our commitment to protecting teachers, items posted are all public in nature.
Current Year
2025
楼凤天堂 signs (American Historical Association, February 5, 2025)
Previous Years
(LA Times, December 2024)
楼凤天堂 has joined two amicus briefs, in collaboration with Penguin Random House and other parties vested in protecting intellectual freedom in the classroom. The Georgia case, Katherine Rinderle v. Cobb County School District, can be read . The California case, Mae M. v. Joseph Komrosky, can be read . (October 2024)
楼凤天堂 endorsed the condemning book bans, which was co-sponsored by Representative Raskin and Senator Schatz. (September 25, 2024)
(EducationWeek September 24, 2024)
Executive Director Emily Kirkpatrick attended the, working to enact change on behalf of educators in partnership with other national organizations. (September 16鈥�17, 2024)
楼凤天堂 sponsors the at the American Library Association’s Annual Conference. (June 28, 2024)
楼凤天堂 Leaders Participate in Roundtable on Book Bans and Educational Censorship in Washington, DC聽(April 29, 2024)
, which targets teacher training programs’ freedom to teach. (February 28, 2024)
This Story Matters Teacher Corps expanded to create five more cohorts to expand the book rationale database. (January 2024)
楼凤天堂 signs statement created by PEN America and We Believe. (October 2, 2023)
楼凤天堂 was recognized, along with other partner organizations, for best practice guidelines around literacy education in a (September 27, 2023)
This Story Matters Teacher Corps created to more vigorously expand the book rationale database. (September 2023)
(WBEZ-Chicago, August 31, 2023)
(The Hill, August 23, 2023)
(The Hill, July 9, 2023)
楼凤天堂 supports the reintroduced . (April 26,2023)
楼凤天堂 Signs Onto Two Statements Condemning Florida House Bill 999: ACLS Statement and the (March 3, 2023)
楼凤天堂 cosigns the American Council of Learned Societies鈥櫬�(February 9, 2023)
础听 recognized 楼凤天堂 as best practice leader on intellectual freedom and condemned the uptick in book bans and education-targeted gag orders. (September 22, 2022)
(The Seattle Medium, September 21, 2022)
(Washington Post, September 12, 2022)
(Publishers Weekly, September 9, 2022)
(ABC News, August 31, 2022)
楼凤天堂 Intellectual Freedom Fellowship announced (July 13, 2022)
楼凤天堂 releases first of it’s kind book rationale database (June 23, 2022)
This Story Matters Campaign launched (June 23, 2022)
Virginia Legal Action Threatens the Freedom to Read (May 18, 2022)
(national partner with ALA’s initiative, May 9, 2022)
(in partnership with School Library Journal, PEN America, the 楼凤天堂 Coalition Against Censorship, Library Journal, and FReadom, May 2, 2022)
(The Washington Post, March 22,2022)
Freedom to Teach: Statement against Banning Books (released March 15, 2022)
(Education Week, March 15, 2022)
Educators鈥� Right and Responsibilities to Engage in Antiracist Teaching (March 8, 2022)
(released March 8, 2022)
楼凤天堂 Creates Book Rationale Database聽with Penguin Random House Education Grant (March 7, 2022)
(District Administration, February 24, 2022)
Statement in Solidarity with Teachers, with over 30 Conferences, Associations, Assemblies, and Affiliate groups signing on in support聽(February 22, 2022)
Statement on the Doublespeak Award and Anti-Censorship Efforts聽(February 7, 2022)
Partnership with the 楼凤天堂 Coalition Against Censorship (January 26, 2021)
Cosigned nonpartisan coalition statement (June 23, 2021)
(Washington Post, September 28, 2021)
(Education Week, September 30, 2021)
(Washington Post, November 12, 2021)
(Associated Press, November 13, 2021; story picked up by numerous additional outlets)
Virtual event (Cosponsored with PEN America, December 15, 2021)